Abilene Wylie beats Abilene Cooper to claim first 5A district title (photos)
ABILENE, Texas - The Abilene Wylie football team claimed its first district title in Class 5A on Friday night by defeating cross-town rival Abilene Cooper 20-10.
Sophomore defensive back Hayden Wright had three late interceptions to help seal the win for a Bulldogs' team that has struggled in past years.
“Two great teams playing, how it should be,” Wylie head coach Clay Martin said after the game. “On the last week of the season for a district championship and to go undefeated in district and win the district championship ... I’m just really proud of how the guys played.”
Things got off to a slow start for Wylie, as a quick three-and-out gave Cooper an early advantage. However the Bulldogs’ defense was able to stand its ground and force the Cougars to kick a 25-yard field goal by Kamune Mrisho.
Wylie responded on the ensuing drive behind running back Malachi Daniels who led the Bulldogs to the Cooper 14-yard line. From there, quarterback KJ Long did the rest as he scrambled out of pressure and scored to give Wylie a 7-3 lead after one quarter of play.
Long finished the night 10 of 14 for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air, adding 30 yards on 9 carries and a score on the ground.
After getting another stop, Long found the end zone through the air when he hit Hunter Hood on a hitch route. Hood broke one tackle and sprinted to the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 14-3 lead.
Both teams traded punts on the next two drives. Before the end of the first half, it appeared that the Cougars were going to get in the end zone, but a fumble gave Wylie the ball just before time expired, keeping the score at 14-3 at halftime.
Photo by Brian McLean
Both defenses dominated the beginning of the second half. At one point, it appeared the Bulldogs had scored again, but an ineligible man downfield nullified the play.
One drive later, Cooper closed the gap with a 1-yard keeper by Chris Warren to make it 14-10 after three quarters.
Wylie was unable to do anything with the opening drive of the fourth quarter and the Cougars were in prime position to take the lead. However, Wright was there for the interception to give the ball back to the Bulldogs.
Three plays later, Long dropped back and found Derrick Evans on the long post route for a 76-yard touchdown. The missed extra point kept the game at 20-10.
Cooper seemed to find a groove again on the ensuing drive, but again Wright was there for the interception. However Wylie was quickly forced to punt, giving the Cougars one last shot at the end zone.
Yet again, Wright was able to get the interception on the first play of the drive. From there, Wylie was able to kneel out the clock, preserving a 20-10 and their first district title in Class 5A.
“We’re just going back to work in the morning,” Martin said. “We’re going back to work and have the chance to play one more game. That’s how we’ll view it from here on out.”
Wylie (7-3, 5-0) clinches the outright district title and will host the El Paso High Tigers (5-5, 2-3) at a date and time to be determined in the Bi-District round of the 5A-Division II playoffs.
Cooper (5-5, 3-2) will take the third seed and travel to El Paso to face the Andress Eagles (4-6, 4-1) at a date and time to be determined.
PHOTO GALLERY
(All photos by Brian McLean)
Photo by Brian McLean
Photo by Brian McLean
